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Snow drifted gently down outside the window, collecting into brilliant white mounds that look soft and inviting, deceptively comfortable rather than the cold and wet that they are. It’s quiet, but not uncomfortable; even inside the apartment it’s as if the snow blankets the world, muffling and protecting them from the harshness of winter. The morning is quiet and calm, and there’s no rushed feeling that accompanies a day of work, no dread of the dawn that so often occurs when Atsushi arises earlier than he’d like. He’s at peace, staring out the window and watching the snow fall, calm and happy.
Atsushi still isn’t used to this feeling. Snow, for most of his life, was something to dread. The feeling of it on bare feet is a pain he won’t soon, if ever, forget. Frozen fire rubbing his skin raw, a burn that leaves one limping for days. The orphanage didn’t care about snow and frostbite, however. Regardless of the weather, they were forced outside to finish chores, silently laboring and grinding their souls to dust.
A soft snore from the person next to him broke Atsushi’s contemplation, and he rolled over, away from the window and towards the young man in bed on his other side.
Junichiro is sound asleep, hair splayed across the pillow, a few strands falling into his eyes. His breath is quiet and steady, punctuated at infrequent intervals by a soft snore. Atsushi smiled, reaching a hand up to brush Juni’s hair out of his face. The other man stirs in his sleep, but he doesn’t wake, used to Atsushi’s touch. It’s another aspect of his life that Atsushi marvels at, even after the 3 years since he ran away and found a new family, how touch can be gentle, soft, and comforting. Warmth instead of fear. He smiled as he continued to run his fingers through soft strands of red hair.
Lost in thought, he didn’t notice Juni wake, but instead finds himself meeting his boyfriend’s gaze when he comes back from his daydreams. “Good morning,” Atsushi said, voice quiet, not sure how awake Juni really was.
“Morning.” Juni’s reply was husky with sleep as he stretched, almost catlike as he worked out the kinks from the night of sleep. When Atsushi had pointed that out to him, mere months after they started dating, Juni had grinned and teased. Maybe it’s because I spend so much time with you, he had replied, laughing as Atsushi protested. The memory makes him grin as he continued to watch his boyfriend shake off the shadow of sleep and dreams.
“What?” Juni asked upon noticing Atsushi’s grin. “Did I do something funny?”
“I’m just happy.” Atsushi leaned over and gave Juni a quick peck on the lips, which had the other boy blushing and smiling. They were adults now, seasoned members of the Armed Detective Agency, had seen more than most people would in a lifetime, and yet his boyfriend still blushed when they kissed, even in the privacy of their own room. It was beyond cute, and Atsushi wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
“Hmmm.” Juni replied, unconvinced. “Well, it is Christmas. I would think you would be.”
“That’s not it.” Atsushi said, and snuggled up against Junichiro. “I’m happy because I love you.”
The light blush on Juni’s face flamed as he stammered out a reply. Atsushi giggled and gave his boyfriend a kiss on his collarbone. He shoved his face into the warmth of Juni’s shirt, and burrowed under the blankets. It was cold, and his boyfriend was better than a heater to fend off the chill of the early morning. Juni wrapped his arms around Atsushi, eyes slipping shut. “Let's just stay in bed all day,” he said, voice muffled, face pressed against Atsushi’s hair. “It's warm. Merry Christmas, you get a whole day to sleep.”
Atsushi raised an eyebrow. “I thought you promised Naomi she could celebrate with us.”
“I'll call her and tell her that we have plans.”
“You’d never do that.”
“I’d never do that.”
Atsushi giggled as his boyfriend moaned and rolled away to stare at the ceiling. Despite his early morning complaining, Atsushi knew that Juni would only really be happy if his sister was there to celebrate with them. The three of them had an odd dynamic, but it was a good one. Atsushi secretly was thrilled that Juni considered him as important as Naomi, and that Naomi considered him one of her best friends. It was comfortable yet exasperating, well and truly a family. This, Atsushi knew, was something that would never stop surprising him. That people loved him enough to spend time with him, to share such important days such as holidays with him.
“Come on, I’m sure your sister will be here soon, we should make pancakes!” He sat up, blankets sliding down to pool around his waist, and looked out the window at the snow. It was still falling, gently, a touch as soft as lips on cheeks and fingertips in hair. The snow, just like Juni’s warmth as his boyfriend leaned against Atsushi’s back, just like the promise of food and laughter the day held, reminded him that not all was bad. The world was scary and harsh, but Atsushi had learned he was allowed to be happy. He grabbed his boyfriend’s hand and dragged him out of bed, ready for all the world had to offer.